Shloka 4

कालनिर्णयः (युग-मन्वन्तर-कल्पप्रमाणम्) — Measures of Time and Cosmic Cycles

Devanagari script

उत्पन्नः प्रोच्यते विद्वन् नित्य एवोपचारतः

Transliteration

utpannaḥ procyate vidvan nitya evopacārataḥ

Translation

O wise one, he is spoken of as “born” only by customary expression; in truth, he is eternal alone.

Word by Word

• उत्पन्नः: born/produced
• उत्पन्नः: Samānādhikaraṇa (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्+पद् (धातु) → उत्पन्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/क्तवत्-प्रत्ययार्थ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्रोच्यते: is said/called
• प्रोच्यते: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• विद्वन्: O wise one
• विद्वन्: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्वस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• नित्यः: eternal
• नित्यः: Samānādhikaraṇa (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic)

• उपचारतः: by convention/figuratively
• उपचारतः: Hetu/Prakara (Manner/Cause nuance)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) ‘by convention/figuratively’

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (addressing Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Clarifying that ‘birth’ language for the Lord/creator is figurative; the Supreme is eternal.

Teaching: Philosophical

Quality: precise, corrective

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Statements of the Lord being ‘born’ are conventional (upacāra); in reality the Supreme is nitya—unoriginated and eternal.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Read scripture with attention to literal vs. figurative usage; avoid projecting human limitations onto the divine.

Vishishtadvaita: Protects divine immutability while allowing real manifestation through modes/roles, a key Vishishtadvaita balance of changeless Lord and changing universe.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of calling the eternal Lord ‘born’ in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse says ‘birth’ is only a conventional, figurative way of speaking; the Lord’s true nature is eternal and not subject to real origination.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the concept of eternity versus creation-language?

Parāśara distinguishes literal ontology from devotional narration: scripture may describe manifestations as ‘arising,’ yet the Supreme remains nitya, with ‘birth’ used only as upacāra.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Vishnu is affirmed as the Supreme Reality—unborn and eternal—while creation descriptions refer to his modes of manifestation rather than any change in his essential being.